Bankies beat Pollok in league double

(Picture courtesy of http://www.clydebankfc.co.uk/2012/)


Clydebank   3:1   Pollok
Gordron Moffat (pen 37)            Stephen Swift (63)
Darian MacKinnon (49)
Ross McPherson (57)


Jan 7th 2012, Holm Park, Super League Premier Match

It was a dismal start to the new year for Pollok, who fell to rivals Clydebank by three goals to one.

The away team piled the pressure on early with Tom Hanlon and Iain Diak both having chances in an attacking spell by Pollok.

However, Jonathon Carter’s tug on Darian Mackinnon inside the box gave the Bankies a penalty in the 37th minute which was duly converted by Gordon Moffat.

Early into the second half Martin McComish played the ball through to MacKinnon who put a curling 18-yard shot past Lok keeper and the home team looked to be well in control.

Ross McPherson added a third on the 57th minute mark although this seemed to provoke a resurgence from a wearied Pollok team. Stephen Smith grabbed a consolation six minutes later and chances followed from Hanlon, Swift and McGinty which had the home fans looking worried.

But it was not to be their day as McGinty picked up a second yellow for simulation just before the end of normal play.

Pollok will be hoping for a better result when they face Glenaftan away in the second round of the West of Scotland Cup this coming Saturday.

All's not 'Well for Queens Park

omar daley of motherwell battles for the ball against queen's park

(picture courtesy of the Daily Record ) 

Motherwell   4-0   Queens Park

Omar Daley (5 mins)

Jamie Murphy (21, 71 mins)

Henrik Ojamaa (90 mins)

The William Hill Scottish Cup Fourth Round , Jan 7, 2012 

Queen’s Park were knocked out of the fourth round of the Scottish Cup by a decisive home win for Motherwell.

Although Queen’s claimed a narrow margin in the possession stakes they found it difficult to break through the defences of Stuart McAll’s on-form Motherwell side, currently third in the Scottish Premier League.

Omar Daley tested Queen’s keeper Neil Parry with a blistering shot in the first minute of play to set the tone for the afternoon.

The visitors replied with a Martin McBride strike which narrowly sailed over the bar, but soon found themselves on the back-foot when Daley’s shot blasted off the base of the post and into the net, putting Motherwell ahead after six minutes.

They were to double their tally 15 minutes later with a 25-yard screamer from Jamie Murphy.

Parry did well to block a one-on-one from Bob McHugh and the Spiders kept on the attack up to the half-time whistle but were lacking in the finishing stakes.

After the break, the spiders came out all guns blazing with a shot from Jamie Longworth forcing a save from Randolph and Watt then sliding a shot inches past the post as Gardner Spier’s team enjoyed a positive spell of play.

But this was not to last as subs Chris Humphrey got himself into space, crossing the ball to Murphy who fired in his second of the day in the 71st minute. The final blow to Queen’s cup dreams was dealt by Estonian forward Henrik Ojamaa who marked his debut with a goal from the edge of the penalty area in last minute.

Fourth place Queens park will need to find a way to hit the target for their Irn Bru League third division clash with Elgin City at home on Saturday.

The thrill of the chase: Orla Guerin, a life on the frontline

“To be honest I didn’t have a clue what I was letting myself in for but I just took my notebook and off I went.”

These are the words of foreign correspondent Orla Guerin, speaking to me from somewhere in the depths of (what sounds to be) the bustling city of Kabul. She is describing her first trip to the former Soviet Union when, at the tender age of 23, she was thrown into the biggest story of her life.

It is such light-hearted frankness which belies the perilous nature of the job and catches this young journalist off-guard. Since this first glimpse behind the Iron Curtain she has covered some of the most dangerous conflicts in recent memory, Kosovo,the Middle East, Pakistan, Libya and her recent most posting, Afghanistan, yet she has done so in such a no-nonsense way.

Her enthusiasm for the job is unmistakable and despite having spent over 25 years broadcasting, this Dublin-born journalist’s excitement at her new assignment is palpable.

“It’s the classic example of still having to learn in this job, Afghanistan is a new story for me and I am thrilled to be here. I think if you are doing foreign news you have to really enjoy it and you have to feel like it’s your life and not just your work.”

The BBC presenter feels the presence of the worlds’ media is crucial to preserving the fragile peace that has been eked out over the last decade of foreign occupation. This relative calm is imperilled by the likely removal of US troops in the not too distant future, as is the modest improvement in the lives of Afghani women.

“One of the stories I’m running at the moment is about the advances that have been made in women’s’ rights over here in the last 10 years but how insecure these advances are and what will happen when foreign forces pull out in 2014.”

Far from being bystanders, these women have fought at great personal cost to reclaim some of their independence.

“I’ve met some of the most extraordinary women over here, activists and business women who have managed to carve out extraordinaryroles for themselves and defy the conservatism in society.”

“One of the politicians we’ve interviewed has had assassination attempts and one of the businesswomenhas to worry about the safety of her workers. They are operating in a very precarious situation and taking risks every day. They are so determined to change the country for the good of their daughters and for coming generations.”

Orla believes these inspirational individuals along with the rest of their society must not feel abandoned by an international community who have promised so much.

“The people who arrived 10 years ago claiming that the abuse of women’s rights was one of the reasons for foreign invasion are the very ones now getting ready to leave without trying to secure the advances that have been made.”

For someone whom has felt that the door to success has always been open, the horrendous conditions that these women face are hard to understand.

“I have worked in many places over the years where women are the victims of dreadful things and face conservative social values such as the Middle East and Pakistan but Afghanistan is a whole other level.”

“It’s staggering, but every day you just sit back and think that so much is determined by the accident of birth. I can’t think of a moment that being a woman has held me back in any way but a woman can serve longer in jail over here for adultery than a man would for murder.”

It is this ‘human cost of war’ that the world must be kept informed about if the incremental process of democratisation is to continue.

“I thinks it’s tremendously important that the spotlight is still kept on this area and that all of the difficulties and messy consequences of the war and of international involvement be kept before the public eye. It has been a huge international endeavour and I think people must examine what has been achieved and what hasn’t.”

The former RTE correspondent received an MBE in 2005 and such integrity and dedication to the human cost of war are perhaps important reasons in her success.

“You also have to be very dedicated to getting it right, you must make absolutely sure your stories are reliable and that people feel they can believe what you’re telling them because credibility is something you can only lose once.”

It’s clear that this newscaster has lost none of the thirst for news she had when she stepped off the plane in Moscow over 20 years ago, perhaps it was her first experience of foreign news that has kept her on the frontline.

“I was absolutely astonished that I was in Moscow and I also had a very strong sense of being in the middle of a momentous period of history. You were waking up every day and thinking, what jaw dropping historic event can happen today and every day there would be something.”

What is also striking is her straightforward approach as to what makes a good journalist: she makes it very clear that gender is not a deciding factor.

“This idea is pedalled that men want to be on the front line counting the bullets and women want to be in the refugee camp counting refugees, I just don’t think that’s the case. I think that good journalists follow the story, the human costs of war are extremely important and a good journalist will want to cover both.”

Somewhat buoyed by such revelation, this young reporter shamelessly attempts to extract further counsel from her remarkable interviewee.

“Someone once gave me a very good piece of advice when I was starting out, it may sound very obvious but it was ‘don’t take no for an answer.’ I don’t mean that in an obnoxious way but you have to be prepared to chase and chase and chase, first to get the work and then to get the story, you have to want it.”

And so I will revisit my own endeavours with a new vigour and I too will chase and chase and chase until I find my big story, whatever that may be.

The Confession of Katherine Howard

Step into a world of untold wealth, rampant excess and endless parties. This could be the tell-all of a modern day rock star but Suzannah Dunn’s absorbing chronicle of Henry VII’s fifth wife Katherine Howard vividly captures all the drama of one woman’s rise to the top of the Tudor Court.

Told through the eyes of her childhood friend and Lady-In-Waiting Cat Tilney, Dunn’s account has the benefit of giving the reader an objective view of Katherine’s prolonged and calculated seduction of King Henry, while also allowing us the insight of a close confidant into the fears and insecurities that drive her wilful behaviour.

Cat’s first meets Katherine at the tender age of twelve when they both reside at the house of the Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, a callous and dispassionate woman whom is charged with the enhancement of their future marriage prospects .

The future queen soon sets herself apart from the other girl’s in the Duchess’ care with the artful styling of her modest gowns and early awareness of men and sexuality. It is also where she begins the promiscuous lifestyle which will be her undoing. A juvenile affair with friend Francis Derham and alleged romance with her music teacher encourage a penchant for excitement that will colour her life as a monarch.

Katherine must walk the perilous line between flirtation and treason that her first cousin Anne Boleyn failed to: keeping the amorous attentions of an ageing king while remaining a loyal and dutiful wife.

In a twist of fate Cat is impelled to choose between Francis Derham (her now lover) and her loyalty to the rebellious Katherine when powerful enemies conspire to put them both in the tower.

For those who loved Phillipa Gregory’s book and subsequent film “The Other Boleyn Girl” this tale is a must.

Glasgow band are 'Belle' of the ball

Middle School Frown featuring Jimmy Magee have won “Best New Band in Glasgow 2011” in a competition launched by Glasgow City of Music and sponsored by UNESCO thanks to the help of their smartphones!

They won the award at the end of last month and fought of stiff competition to be selected by Chris Geddes of Belle and Sebastian.

The two members, Gerard Mitchell and John Kevin met while working together and while both had always enjoyed making music neither believed theywould win, let alone be endorsed by such a successful Scottish musician.

“Making music has also been a creative release for me, it’s always just been a hobby but I’ve always enjoyed it” says Gerard.

“You never think someone of his calibre is going to like your music and to be picked ahead of really stiffcompetition gives you such a confidence boost. It makes you think, ‘wow, may I could take this further’” he adds.

If not for a twist of fate the winning single “She Waits For Someone” would never have been made. Coming from two completely different styles of music, each had a mutual appreciation but had not considered that the two genres would be in any way compatible.

Gerard’s music has more of a folk vibe whereas John’s is more of a Brian Eno type ambience” yet thanks to an app called Mixtl the two were able to create a new genre which they jokingly refer to as “amboustic.”

As John says, “She Waits was kind of freaky, i composed the ambient track about a week after watching the film “The Lovely Bones” for the first time and we had both been talking about that film a few days after I brought the track into work for Gerry to hear it. He went home the same night and wrote the lyrics, guitar and vocals and came into work the next day with the new version recorded on his Iphone.”

This app allowed two entirely different styles of music to come together and while the vast majority of the other entries were was indie-pop influenced, this sound was altogether different.

“What’s amazing is that two old guys can make a song like this without even jamming. Everything was done on our phones, from the beat to the guitar to the vocal, it’s just amazing what you can do now” says Gerard.

John is also very complimentary about the standard of competition and feels they did well to win.
“As more bands entered the competition we would listen to their work and we both thought we had little chance of winning – most of the other bands, were gigging or already releasing CDs or EPs – whereas the two of us hadn’t even recorded our entry in the same building.”

The prize included recording time in a local studio and the guys hope to use this opportunity to get there music out to a new audience.

“We are going into a studio in early January to record She Waits For Someone and a few other songs which Gerry and I have been working on together, hopefully we can get a label to release them for
us” says John.

Check out the winning entry below!

Sir Alex honoured at Hall of Fame dinner

Sir Alex Ferguson was among a number of Scottish heroes honoured at the seventh annual Scottish Football Museum’s Hall of Fame Dinner which took place in a star-studded affair at Glasgow’s Hilton hotel on Sunday night.

Govan-born Ferguson, was joined by Billy McNeil, Walter Smith, and inductees Pat Crerand and former England captain Terry Butcher, making it a who’s-who of Scottish football.

The inductees were chosen by football fans all over the world for their contribution to Scottish football, and also included legendary Celtic goalkeeper Ronnie Simpson, and RS McColl who played for Newcastle and Rangers at the turn of the 20th century.

Richard McBrearty, curator of the museum, feels that having inaugurated the likes of Denis Law and Henrik Larsson in previous years, the event has grown in stature since it began in 2004.

“It has become one of the major after-dinner events in Scottish Football,” he said.

During the night-long proceedings, Ferguson received tributes throughout the night for his 50 years in the game and 25 years as Manchester United boss.

He was quick to praise Celtic and Manchester United star Pat Crerand, saying he held his own during a great time in Scottish football.

“He deserves it, we had some great players in the country when Paddy played,” Ferguson said. “With Law and Baxter, that group of players was fantastic and he was part of that.”

The former East Stirlingshire, St Mirren, and Aberdeen boss also joked about Crerand’s role at MUTV saying “he is the most biased commentator ever, we never do a thing wrong.”

Pat Creran and Sir Alex share a joke (The Scotsman)

Paddy Crerand was equally as complimentary about the eight-time Premier League Manager of the Year.

 “Records speak for themselves, his record is better than Sir Matt Busby, it’s incredible. He’s the best,” he said.

Iconic hard-man Terry Butcher was also delighted at being the first Englishman to be industed saying: “I felt very humbled and proud to receive my award, with so many fantastic people in front of me," he said.

Sir Alex also paid tribute to the job Craig Levein is doing as Scotland manager, despite continued criticism for often negative tactics.

“I think they have a group of very good midfield players–that’s their strength, they played very good football the other night,” he said.

The legendary manager also feels that Scotland’s current dearth of talent can be changed.

“It is possible, if you put the energy into it and the facilities. If that’s improved and money is invested then you’ve every possibility.”

There was the obligatory awkward moment when a misguided journalist asked him if he had any plans to “give back” to Scottish football in the future.

To which the terse reply was “I give my support. That’s all.”

Park and ride facility to open at National Stadium

A large park and ride facility will be built beside the National Stadium in hopes of easing traffic congestion.

It will be situated on Aitkenhead Road and hold almost 600 parking spaces.

The initiative is part of the “Keep Glasgow Moving” strategy introduced by Glasgow City Council, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) and First Bus.

Paul Coleshill, local councillor for Langside, thinks it will bring great relief to an overcrowded area.

 “The Langside ward is one of the most densely populated wards in Glasgow, combined with the queues of cars waiting to join the new M74, this facility will help get traffic moving here” he said.

The space will feature a bus interchange and it is hoped this will encourage drivers to leave their cars and finish their journey into town by bus.

John Flanagan, Govan councillor, was convener of the Planning Applications Committee which approved the proposal and he too is optimistic.

“The traffic situation along Aitkenhead Rd is terrible at the moment, the park and ride area can only help and hopefully get people out of their cars and on to public transport” he said.

The area will also be used as an over flow car park for events at the National Stadium.

Brian Muir, Safety and Operations Manager at the stadium, is keen to stress that this will be a council resource which will only be used by the stadium for large events.

“The facility will have more spaces, a more attractive layout and with the bus interchange, it should reduce strain on the inadequate parking facilities we have at present” he added.

It is expected to be operational by July 2012 when Hampden will host six Olympic football games and will be a key factor in helping to alleviate pressure for the Commonwealth Games in 2014.